Levi Nas and the Million-Won Scam

Han Yeoreum's display of extravagance when she showed off that spam text was truly astounding. She was spending tens of millions of won in a single day. The appliances and kitchen tools she'd bought for my place—insisting she'd use them whenever she needed. Even the massive, crystal-clear TV that left Levi Nas wide-eyed in amazement. Levi Nas was so shocked by her wealth that she made some private vow to herself.

"Yeoreum! Yeoreum!"

That night, Levi Nas came back home clutching a rabbit doll in one hand and chased after Han Yeoreum. With nothing to do at the house, I followed along behind her.

"Yeah?"

"Yeoreum, lend Levi Nas a smart!"

"Uh... you mean a smartphone?"

Han Yeoreum pulled her smartphone from her pocket. It was the same one she'd handed me last time to try taking photos with.

"Yeah! Levi Nas needs a smatphone."

"Here. It's fine to play with it, but don't overdo it, okay?"

"Yeah!"

Levi Nas snatched the smartphone from Han Yeoreum and dashed to the sofa, plopping down. Curious what she was up to, I hurried after her.

Tap-tap.

Seated on the sofa, Levi Nas poked slowly at the smartphone screen. I wanted to ask what she was doing, but I didn't want to interrupt her focus. I just sat carefully beside ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her, peering at the screen.

Levi Nas was searching the internet in real time. Below the search bar, her previous queries popped up.

Ah.

I'd figured she'd just play games or watch cartoons on the smartphone. But she was researching how to earn more money.

I felt ashamed for burdening such a young girl.

"Looking up ways to make money?"

"Yeah! Smatphone's super smart! It tells Levi Nas all kinds of stuff!"

"I see."

That was one of the internet's good sides. Truth be told, I hadn't even used the internet in this world myself. Maybe Levi Nas was even better at handling smartphones than me. Fixing my gaze on the screen, I thought as much.

"Levi Nas will make tons of money and give it to King!"

"Yeah, thanks. But you can spend the money you earn however you want."

"Huh? Why would Levi Nas spend Levi Nas's money?"

"Well, because it's money you earned...?"

Wasn't using your own earnings for yourself the top priority? I tilted my head in confusion.

"Money goes to the highest person! Levi Nas's money all goes to King!"

Was that some radical faction rule? It seemed way too harsh.

"Money's for doing what you like."

"Yeah! Then Levi Nas will make tons and spend on King!"

"On me...?"

"Yeah! Levi Nas likes King!"

Levi Nas shouted at the top of her lungs, then gasp! slapped a hand over her mouth. She glanced at Sophia, dozing soundly in the nearby massage chair, then scooted close and whispered in my ear.

"And buy Shark stuff too...!"

"Good idea."

"Right...?!"

"Yeah."

Even coming from the radicals, Levi Nas was a good kid at heart. I decided to step away so she could focus on her task.

I want to earn lots of money and help everyone.

With her goal set, Levi Nas explored the internet world deep into the night. And then.

Bzzz-!

The smartphone vibrated, delivering one text to Levi Nas.

It was obvious spam anyone could spot, but innocent young Levi Nas knew nothing of human ugliness. Her eyes sparkled at the promise of bigger rewards with bigger investments.

Tap-tap.

Using her clumsily learned skills, Levi Nas replied to the sender. Full of hope for even more money.

Money multiplication? If she got rich, what first? Buy King a house, get Shark chocolate milk to get closer...

Levi Nas hugged her smartphone, swollen with anticipation. The thought of helping those around her filled her with pure joy.

Lately, Levi Nas had been busy. Every trip to the hunting grounds, she'd tag along picking mushrooms, then collect empty bottles without a break. She worked so relentlessly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it made onlookers anxious.

"...Levi Nas, how about a rest?"

"No way! Levi Nas is building a big pile of cash!"

"Big pile?"

"Yeah!"

She'd been studying money-making lately—had she figured it out? Unease stirred in me as I sat her on a nearby bench.

"What for with the big pile?"

"Levi Nas is gonna invest!"

Good heavens. Levi Nas knew about investing?

My ears and tail perked up at her superior financial sense.

"You know about investing, Levi Nas?"

"Nope, not really!"

Investing without knowing? It felt off, but not a bad idea. Even if she lost money, it'd be a valuable lesson. As long as she learned from experience, I didn't mind spending any amount.

"So, investing where?"

"Dunno! Someone online said they'd multiply it for Levi Nas!"

Pffft! Someone nearby sipping beer spat it out.

If I'd been drinking, I'd have done the same.

"Levi Nas, that's a scam."

Where'd she meet such a creep? Then it hit me—her recent smartphone fiddling. Must've been spam. I had to warn her before she got fleeced.

"S-scam...?"

"Yeah. Did you actually meet the 'money multiplier'?"

"Yeah! Met 'em with texts!"

Just texts? No face-to-face for money deals? Pure scam.

"Levi Nas, total scam. They'll take ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠your money and run."

"What?!"

Levi Nas's eyes bugged out like a rabbit's, freezing in place. The shock made her drop her empty bottle.

"Good thing we caught it before sending money."

She'd said she was building a pile—hadn't sent any yet, right? As relief washed over me, I spotted her pupils trembling.

"B-but... Levi Nas already sent money..."

"Yeah...?"

"Th-there's a machine at the convenience store for sending money, so Levi Nas sent whenever she had some..."

She'd already been scammed. I froze just like her.

"Know how to use the machine...?"

"N-no, so the store uncle helped..."

No way. All her earnings, wired away. I tore at my hair in despair.

"How much?"

"One million won..."

"Gasp."

One million. Every bit she'd scraped from picking bottles. Mostly allowance from adventurers for snacks, sure. But seeing her efforts vanish was heartbreaking.

"Levi Nas is in big trouble... Shark's gonna chew Levi Nas out..."

Tears welled in Levi Nas's eyes, ready to spill at a touch.

"No, it's not your fault..."

"Shark'll pop Levi Nas..."

Sniff. Levi Nas wiped tears, fiddling with the choker around her neck.

Ah.

I hadn't told her it was fake yet. Wanted to now, but held back. In this state, it'd just sound like comforting lies.

"Levi Nas, let's do this."

"H-how...?"

"Say I sent the money, not you."

She feared Sophia's scolding more than the lost cash. Erase the incident, and she'd relax.

"Then King gets in trouble..."

"It's fine. I won't get yelled at much. And even if I do, no big deal."

"...King's brave?"

"Yeah. You saw me catch that hobgoblin, right?"

At my confident stance, Levi Nas nodded through sniffles. I sensed her relief instinctively.

"Levi Nas wanted to earn big and surprise everyone..."

"Yeah, the thought alone means a lot."

She'd craved praise, wanted to chip in for household. The scammer preying on that pure heart was vile.

No way to get the money back, though.

One million's a lot, but...

She'd learned a lesson: world's not kind, can't trust lightly. Cheap tuition, in a way.

I learned too.

Problem is telling the others.

Part of me wanted to gloss over, but I shook ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my head. Couldn't hide from those helping me. Plus, promise with Levi Nas.

"King... Levi Nas is so sorry... Levi Nas is scared of getting yelled at..."

"It's okay, don't worry too much. Got it?"

"Yeah..."

If that bomb necklace blew, anyone'd be terrified. Might look foolish to others, but I'd take the blame. Couldn't bear seeing sweet Levi Nas sad and scared.